DHA supplementation during pregnancy decreased the occurrence of colds in children at 1 month and reduced illness symptom duration at 1, 3 and 6 months

Topics: Omega-3 fatty acids, docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC-PUFAs), pregnancy, infant morbidityBackground: The beneficial effects of DHA intake during pregnancy through either maternal diet or supplement use on cognitive development during infancy has been well known for over a decade. This knowledge has resulted in an official recommendation for women to consume at least 200 mg/DHA daily during pregnancy. However, intake of LC-PUFAs also influences immune cell function, but few studies have investigated the extent to which DHA supplementation during pregnancy can benefit infant morbidity.

Objective: To determine the impact of DHA supplementation during pregnancy on infant morbidity.

Method: This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial included 1094 pregnant women who took either 400 mg of algal sourced DHA or a placebo daily from 18-22 weeks’ gestation through parturition.

Inclusion criteria: gestation week 18-22, aged 18-35 years, planned to deliver at the IMSS General Hospital Inn Cuernavaca, planned to breast feed after delivery, and planned to live in the area for 2 years.

The infants were assessed at ages 1 (n=849), 3 (n=834) and 6 (n= 834) months for the occurrence and duration of the following common illness symptoms in the preceding 15 days:

Colds, Cough

Phlegm, Nasal congestion

Wheezing

Rash

Vomiting, Diarrhoea

Fever

Nasal secretion, Difficulty breathing

Other illness

Findings: 1) The occurrence of specific illness symptoms was not different between groups. However, the occurrence of combined cold symptoms was lower in the DHA group at 1 month (OR:0.76; 95% CI:0.58-1.00)

2) At 1 month, the DHA group experienced a 26%, 15% and 30% shorter duration of cough, phlegm and wheezing, respectively, but 22% longer duration of rash (all p=/< 0.01).

3) At month 3, infants in the DHA group were ill 14% less of the time (p<0.0001)